As a parent, it can be challenging to always look out for your child’s safety. Since toddlers become active as soon as they can walk, they can be prone to injuries. If your child is injured, you need to act fast, especially if they need urgent medical attention.
Walk-in urgent care clinics cater to patients who want to avoid traveling to a larger health care facility. These centers can help you treat non-life-threatening ailments and provide various labs and X-ray services. They are the perfect solution for your child’s injuries since they offer on-demand care and extended business hours, even without an appointment.
What should I do when my child gets injured?
Parents tend to exaggerate their child’s injuries, especially since they have an emotional connection to them. Not all injuries demand emergency medical attention, although toddlers seem to be a magnet for all kinds of bruises and cuts. Your child may not yet be familiar with utilizing their different body parts, which causes them to fall, trip, or tumble. To prepare for these instances, you should be familiar with treating cuts, bites, burns, and other small injuries with first-aid solutions.
For exposed wounds, you should first wash it with clean tap water and soap. Apply an antibiotic ointment and put on a bandage to close the wound. Apply pressure for 15 minutes and raise it above the heart to prevent further bleeding.
For twisted wrists and ankles, you should first place the injured limb above the heart’s level. Let your child lay down on their back. Apply an ice pack on the joint for 15 minutes every hour for at least two days.
Keep in mind that it’s your responsibility as a parent to judge if these cuts and bruises are manageable with first-aid solutions. If you feel that their wounds are too severe for you to handle, it may be time to visit a walk-in urgent care clinic.
When should I bring my child to a walk-in urgent care clinic?
Beyond the small accidents in the playground or tumbles on the sidewalk, more urgent conditions may require you to visit a clinic as soon as possible. Listed below are three warning signs that you should visit a clinic to consult with a medical professional.
- Chronic pain: If your child recently had an injury but is still experiencing pain, it may be a sign of deeper complications beyond muscle pain. It can be a distressing time for your child if they don’t know where the pain is coming from, so you should be there for emotional support.
- Breathing complications: It can happen to a child even without experiencing physical trauma. Allergic reactions, viruses, or upper respiratory conditions can cause breathing difficulties. If your child doesn’t have asthma, you should consider visiting an urgent care clinic to find their condition’s root cause.
- Head injuries: Although bumps and bruises on arms and limbs are hardly fatal, head injuries are different. Children who sustain head injuries may experience loss of consciousness, vomiting, and unusual behavior. These are potential symptoms of a concussion that can be permanently damaging if left untreated.
Remember to bring a list of your child’s medical history, including their underlying conditions, allergies, medications, immunizations, and other supplements. Giving this to your assigned physician will make it easier for them to provide the right treatment and prescription that your child needs to receive.
Conclusion
It can be an adrenaline-pumping situation to see your child with injuries. Nevertheless, it would be best to remain calm so that you can think straight and fast during these emergencies. Don’t forget about your first-aid solutions first and always take note of where you can receive immediate medical treatment nearby.
If you need a reliable urgent care center in Secaucus, New Jersey, we’re the right facility for you! We treat patients of all ages, from toddlers to elderly adults. Visit our branches today for expert and immediate medical services.
